News

Nipah virus takes two lives in India; over 700 people tested

Published

2 years ago

September 14, 2023

editor

The southern Indian state of Kerala shut some schools, offices and public transport on Wednesday in a race to stop the spread of the rare and deadly Nipah virus, which has killed two people, Reuters said.

Two adults and a child were still infected in hospital, and more than 700 people were being tested for the virus, spread via contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats, pigs or people, a state health official said.

The state government on Wednesday evening said at least 706 people, including 153 health workers, were undergoing tests to check the spread of the virus. Results were awaited.

Two infected people have died since August 30 in Kerala’s fourth outbreak of the virus since 2018, forcing authorities to declare containment zones in at least eight Kozhikode villages.

The Nipah virus was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak of illness among pig farmers and others in close contact with the animals in Malaysia and Singapore.

Outbreaks are sporadic and previous infections in South Asia have occurred when people drank date-palm sap contaminated with bat excreta.

In Kerala’s first Nipah outbreak, 21 of the 23 people infected died. Outbreaks in 2019 and 2021 killed two people.

News

Boossa Prison jailor remanded over ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’ murder

Published

7 hours ago

March 17, 2025

editor

A Jailor at the Boossa Prison, who had brought underworld figure Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne also known as “Ganemulla Sanjeewa” to court on the day he was killed inside the Hulftsdorp court premises, has been arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD).

Subsequently, he has been ordered to be remanded until March 21, after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, Ada Derana reporter said.

Presenting the suspect to the court, the Colombo Crimes Division officials have stated that the murdered suspect, “Ganemulla Sanjeewa”, had been brought to court by the arrested Jailer on the day of the assassination.

Police informed the court that investigations are underway to determine whether the crime was committed due to the Jailor’s dereliction of duty.

Police also pointed out to the court that investigations have revealed that the suspected prison officer had not taken any steps to arrest the individual who shot at “Ganemulla Sanjeewa” within the court premises and fled.

During the trial, police also requested permission to obtain a record of the suspect’s mobile phone calls for further investigations.

The court granted permission for the requests and ordered the suspect to be remanded until March 21.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)